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Book Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

My first thought on finishing Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah was that this author obviously feels the need to break her readers on every book. Well mission accomplished. This broke me every bit as much as The Nightingale did last year.

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the social food-chain at school. Then, to her amazement, the 'coolest girl in the world' moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all -beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be, but they make a pact to be best friends forever, by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
For thirty years Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship, jealousy, anger, hurt and resentment. Tully follows her ambition to find fame and success. Kate knows that all she wants is to fall in love and have a family but what she doesn't know is that being a wife and mother will change her. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart and puts their courage and lifelong friendship to the ultimate test.

My Thoughts on Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah:

I was a little disappointed that this book wasn’t historical fiction as I thought Kristin Hannah did such a fantastic job of that with The Nightingale that I wanted more of the same. However it is set from 1970 to the early 2000’s so it does cover quite a span. And I have to admit that now I’m prepared to read whatever genre she writes in. I love her emotional and heartfelt themes.

A story about friendship

Firefly Lane tells the story of two best friends – Lexy and Kate. In some ways they are opposites; Lexy is tough and popular while Kate is shy and lonely. They meet each on other at a time where they both need a friend and they each fill a void that the other girl has. I loved the carefree, living-life-to-the-full, emotionally intense friendship that they built up. A friendship that meant everything to them.

“That was the thing about best friends. Like sisters and mothers, they could piss you off and make you cry and break your heart, but in the end, when the chips were down, they were there, making you laugh even in your darkest hours. ”

A story about challenges

As they grow up, they face different challenges. Lexy goes tooth and nail after a career she wants and sacrifices a lot to meet her goals. But is left wanting more.

“What good did it do to light the world on fire if she had to watch the glow alone?”

Kate becomes a stay at home mom and at times is overwhelmed by just how full on her life is.

“The at-home mother’s life: it was a race with no finish line.”

Their lives are very different, and they have a friendship where they call it as they see it so they often clash. But they are forever friends. I love that this book is all about their friendship. How they comfort each other when sad, give a kick up the ass when it’s needed, then challenge and motivate the other to be the best they can be.

A story about life

And did I mention it’s a heart-breaker. It’s equal parts beautiful friendship (but not unrealistically so) and harrowingly devastating. It takes the ordinary and throws the spotlight on it until it shines. And just when it has you dazzled, it rips it away. Bring tissues, you’ll need them.

Rating Report

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Who should read Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah?

I highly recommend this to you if you like heart-warming/heart-breaking stories about lively, engaging characters. I’d also recommend it if you like plots that span from childhood to womanhood and all that life throws out during that journey. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Maeve Binchy and Diane Chamberlain should also enjoy this one.

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8 Responses to “Book Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah”

I used to read Kristin Hannah years and years ago. Don’t know why I stopped (sometimes we just let authors slip away for no reason). Anyway, I was surprised in reverse because you were expecting historical fiction, and the author I knew only wrote contemporary women’s & family fiction. So I still need to find The Nightingale and read that asap. Even though this isn’t a new title by Hannah, I must’ve missed it and I just recently found it at the Library Friends shop, so I’m excited to read it this summer, definitely.

I think it’s great when an author can tackle different genres and make both work. And that’s great that you’ve recently found a copy of Firefly Summer Rita, I hope that you love it as much as I do whenever you get to it. It’s a lovely summer read so this is definitely a great time to try and fit it in! I have the sequel to read too and I want to read it soon while this one is still fresh in my mind.

It has been so long since I have read this one, but I remember loving it. I have read several Kristin Hannah books and it seems like The Nightingale is her only historical fiction book. That is such a shame because it was amazing. Great review and I am glad you loved this one too.Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2)

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